Electronic Parking Brake

15287 Views 24 Replies 10 Participants Last post by RussellHodgson, Jan 3, 2018

TheLip

Discussion Starter · Sep 7, 2017

My 718 Cayman 6MT arrives in December. When test driving a Cayman I noticed that the electronic parking brake does not come on automatically when you turn off the engine. I have an Audi A5 6MT and it does the same thing. It is a minor annoyance in the A5 because the parking brake switch is right by the stick shift. In the 718 the switch is nowhere near as conveniently placed. Is there a readily accessible setting to change this? There isn't one on the A5, so I would imagine that is the case on the 718. If not, is that setting something that can be changed with the VAG Com cable or some other aftermarket solution? Thanks.

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SKLD

· #2 · Sep 7, 2017

TheLip said:
My 718 Cayman 6MT arrives in December. When test driving a Cayman I noticed that the electronic parking brake does not come on automatically when you turn off the engine. I have an Audi A5 6MT and it does the same thing. It is a minor annoyance in the A5 because the parking brake switch is right by the stick shift. In the 718 the switch is nowhere near as conveniently placed. Is there a readily accessible setting to change this? There isn't one on the A5, so I would imagine that is the case on the 718. If not, is that setting something that can be changed with the VAG Com cable or some other aftermarket solution? Thanks.

Question at first "Cayman with manual gear box?".
With PDK you need not really the parking brake at bevels of less than 15 °. I registred one time the parking brake was automatically activated by switch the engine Off before PDK in position "N" and release the brake paddle. But realise, you have to deactivate parking brake manually before you hit the road next time.

TheLip

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 7, 2017

So, you are saying that at enough of an angle, the parking brake will turn on automatically? Interesting. I will try to check that out once I get my car as my mom's house is on a street with a pretty steep hill.

Goldtrom

· #4 · Sep 7, 2017

On my 2018 6MT boxster, 1st gear is not enough to hold the car. Found that out on the first day. The parking brake is opposite my other cars (push vs pull to engage). I parked on a ~5% grade and put it in first but didn't set the parking brake (due to me pulling it instead of pushing it). Came back a few minutes later and it had rolled backward out of the spot. Not something you want to see, especially just minutes after picking it up from the dealer.

All you 6MT owners out there make sure you set the parking brake on any hill...

Viffermike

· #5 · Sep 7, 2017 (Edited)

TheLip said:
When test driving a Cayman I noticed that the electronic parking brake does not come on automatically when you turn off the engine. I have an Audi A5 6MT and it does the same thing. It is a minor annoyance in the A5 because the parking brake switch is right by the stick shift. In the 718 the switch is nowhere near as conveniently placed. Is there a readily accessible setting to change this?

There are several very good reasons why this does not happen and is thus placed under the driver's control. Two off the top of my head:
- Automatic car washes in which the car needs to 'roll' (selector in 'N' and engine switched off)
- Towing situations (transmission may be part of the reason the car needs to be towed!)

What you suggest is a huge end-user liability issue and is one reason why electronic parking brakes have not been adopted in the U.S. as readily as they have been in Europe, where drivers are generally much better trained in operating vehicles than they are here.
Be aware that @SKLD is in Europe, where the brake's automatic activation may very well function differently than in the U.S.

If you're seriously complaining about the switch's location and the extra effort you'll need to activate it, why the heck are you buying a Porsche?

SKLD

· #6 · Sep 7, 2017 (Edited)

SKLD said:
Question at first "Cayman with manual gear box?".
With PDK you need not really the parking brake at bevels of less than 15 °. I registred one time the parking brake was automatically activated by switch the engine Off before PDK in position "N" and release the brake paddle. But realise, you have to deactivate parking brake manually before you hit the road next time.

My intention was only "How to activate the parking brake automatically On" and why it happens one time!! Not to leave the car in D,N or R ist clear not an option!
I tested now again and find out -when PDK is on D or R and I open the door the parking brake will be activated. Than you switch PDK into P and switch Off the engine. It is not a convenient solution but it works.

photonscience

· #7 · Sep 7, 2017

Goldtrom said:
All you 6MT owners out there make sure you set the parking brake on any hill...

Best advice for 718 owners with MT - always set the parking brake and put car in gear - even when you think you don't need to. Best to make the procedure "muscle memory".

Almost learned an expensive lesson with my 981 GTS where I forgot the cursed electronic parking brake and left the car in neutral in my perfectly flat garage. Got out on my car and that action set the car rolling - the open door of the car stopped the car from rolling out of the garage by jamming up against the garage door frame. Luckily, Porsche door hinges are strong so no damage except for a little leather rub on the inside of the car door where it struck the garage door frame. I now always remember - set parking brake - put car first gear - muscle memory.

Reactions: 1

RussellHodgson

· #8 · Sep 7, 2017

When I first got the car I accidentally stalled it due to the auto start/stop. I came to a stop and the car shut off. I put the e-brake on and put it in first gear and let the clutch out thinking I had turned the car off (because it was off, but of course I hadn't turned the car off - the car had turned itself off.) The action of releasing the clutch told the car it was time to start up again, and it tried to do so and then promptly stalled! That was embarrassing.

Regarding the e-brake push on/pull off - for me it makes sense. In older cars that had the foot brake where the e-brake is you would push down with your foot to put it on and pull a handle up to release it. The e-brake mimics that, which makes sense to me.

TheLip

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 8, 2017

I always put the car in gear and set my parking brake when exiting my car. Always. And yet, every once in a while, like when I am juggling too many things at once, I accidentally fail to set the parking brake. At least in my Audi, a quick glance through the window at the button, which sits right next to the stick shift, can confirm if I did, indeed, set the parking brake. I plan on following the same practice once I get my 718. Still, it would be great if the electronic parking brake was set to come on automatically when the car was turned off. I looked into that right after I got my A5 and recall that by using the VAGCom cable you could change the default function so that the parking brake would come on when the ignition was turned off. Some research showed that there is a similar cable for Porsche, Durametric. There is also the memory module by T-Design. Can any of these be used to change the US default setting for the parking brake?

Viffermike

· #10 · Sep 8, 2017

TheLip said:
I always put the car in gear and set my parking brake when exiting my car. Always. And yet, every once in a while, like when I am juggling too many things at once, I accidentally fail to set the parking brake. At least in my Audi, a quick glance through the window at the button, which sits right next to the stick shift, can confirm if I did, indeed, set the parking brake. I plan on following the same practice once I get my 718. Still, it would be great if the electronic parking brake was set to come on automatically when the car was turned off. I looked into that right after I got my A5 and recall that by using the VAGCom cable you could change the default function so that the parking brake would come on when the ignition was turned off. Some research showed that there is a similar cable for Porsche, Durametric. There is also the memory module by T-Design. Can any of these be used to change the US default setting for the parking brake?

Well, that you have to 'code' the A5 to enable that kind of functionality is testament to how dangerous (and potentially illegal) an auto-on e-brake can potentially be. For instance: Imagine what a dealer might do if it were unaware of the function while servicing your coded car ...

If there were a market for it, there'd be a solution available -- by T-Design or otherwise. There isn't. I highly suggest you live with it, OP ...

... and by the way: some manufacturers have purposefully moved the e-brake switch away from the transmission control to minimize accidental engagement. The point is that they want you to be conscious about activating it, particularly since an e-brake is an on-off thing compared to a manual handbrake. Some folks far more ignorant than you or I have not understood that distinction.

4802

· #11 · Sep 8, 2017

Viffermike said:
Well, that you have to 'code' the A5 to enable that kind of functionality is testament to how dangerous (and potentially illegal) an auto-on e-brake can potentially be. For instance: Imagine what a dealer might do if it were unaware of the function while servicing your coded car ...

If there were a market for it, there'd be a solution available -- by T-Design or otherwise. There isn't. I highly suggest you live with it, OP ...

... and by the way: some manufacturers have purposefully moved the e-brake switch away from the transmission control to minimize accidental engagement. The point is that they want you to be conscious about activating it, particularly since an e-brake is an on-off thing compared to a manual handbrake. Some folks far more ignorant than you or I have not understood that distinction.

Indeed & accidental operation could be potentially disastrous. The manual states that in an emergency situation the e-brake can be applied, but also warns that the effect is so dramatic that the car could very likely be rear ended. I'm happy to have the switch quite where it is thanks & not where I, or more likely someone unfamiliar with the car could accidentally operate it (like for example near all of the other switches). I'm not sure why anyone needs a parking brake to apply automatically either. If you can't remember to set the parking brake before leaving your vehicle then perhaps it's time to consider that just maybe you should no longer be driving at all.

Reactions: 1

TheLip

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 9, 2017

Chilli said:
Indeed & accidental operation could be potentially disastrous. The manual states that in an emergency situation the e-brake can be applied, but also warns that the effect is so dramatic that the car could very likely be rear ended. I'm happy to have the switch quite where it is thanks & not where I, or more likely someone unfamiliar with the car could accidentally operate it (like for example near all of the other switches). I'm not sure why anyone needs a parking brake to apply automatically either. If you can't remember to set the parking brake before leaving your vehicle then perhaps it's time to consider that just maybe you should no longer be driving at all.

I am sorry that I offended your sensibilities with my tragically misguided query. And you are right about the location of the switch leading to confusion. That would explain the time I tried to put on the seat heater and the car came to a screeching halt. Maybe I should give up driving. Or maybe you should stop drinking so much coffee that you get all righteous and butt hurt by any question that you didn't ask. I thought that this was an open forum to ask questions and pass along information and experiences about 718s. My mistake.

Reactions: 1

TheLip

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 9, 2017

Viffermike said:
Well, that you have to 'code' the A5 to enable that kind of functionality is testament to how dangerous (and potentially illegal) an auto-on e-brake can potentially be. For instance: Imagine what a dealer might do if it were unaware of the function while servicing your coded car ...

If there were a market for it, there'd be a solution available -- by T-Design or otherwise. There isn't. I highly suggest you live with it, OP ...

... and by the way: some manufacturers have purposefully moved the e-brake switch away from the transmission control to minimize accidental engagement. The point is that they want you to be conscious about activating it, particularly since an e-brake is an on-off thing compared to a manual handbrake. Some folks far more ignorant than you or I have not understood that distinction.

Your point is well taken. I envisioned it more as the car is at rest, the ignition is turned off and the key exits the vehicle (I did order the keyless entry and drive) then, and only then, would the brake turn on automatically if not already engaged. I agree that if the brake turned on immediately when the engine turned off, regardless of other factors, that could lead to disastrous consequences.

And confirming your point, I contacted T-Design and they were quick to reply that they do not touch the braking mechanism at all as that could lead to "huge liability".

I guess my last question is whether this is due to a US regulatory issue, or if 718s in other countries have the same setting. I ask purely out of curiosity.

4802

· #14 · Sep 9, 2017 (Edited)

TheLip said:
I am sorry that I offended your sensibilities with my tragically misguided query. And you are right about the location of the switch leading to confusion. That would explain the time I tried to put on the seat heater and the car came to a screeching halt. Maybe I should give up driving. Or maybe you should stop drinking so much coffee that you get all righteous and butt hurt by any question that you didn't ask. I thought that this was an open forum to ask questions and pass along information and experiences about 718s. My mistake.

I fully stand by my earlier comment. The e-brake is located where it is for very good reason & anyone that lacks the presence of mind to set that brake before they exit the vehicle needs to either learn to focus or give up driving altogether. I'm neither butt hurt or offended & nor did I have any reason to be. However judging by your slightly infantile diatribe it would appear that you are. I won't lower myself to your levels but I will point out that it is an open forum & whilst you might dislike some of my opinions you'll just have to learn to deal with it. If you can't then tough luck because I'm still going to give em!

photonscience

· #15 · Sep 9, 2017

ummm, we're starting to sound a bit P9-ish here. This is the Happy Place.

Reactions: 3

4802

· #16 · Sep 9, 2017

photonscience said:
ummm, we're starting to sound a bit P9-ish here. This is the Happy Place.

Given the choice between being blunt & excessively over sensitive I think I'd rather still stay at being blunt. I am aware of that particular trait & if my bluntness ever offends then just PM me & we can discuss it further. However, I still see nothing in my first comment that was untrue & stand by it 100%.

TheLip

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 9, 2017

Just to be clear, I do welcome your opinion, Chilli. In fact I asked for it. And as a senior member of the board, I am sure that you possess lots of valuable information that I hope you will share. I just don't think my question warranted a response questioning my ability to continue to drive. But now that I have a better understanding of your personality, I get it and we can all move along.

Reactions: 1

Viffermike

· #18 · Sep 11, 2017

To all involved regarding the "happy place" comment by @photonscience : This forum should not focus exclusively on positives about our cars. If it does, it will have virtually no redeeming value.

718s will have issues just like any other make and model of car. This forum needs to be a place where both positives and negatives are discussed with verve, thoughtfulness, insight, and objectivity. As we all know, equivalent subforums on other forums are far from objective and thoughtful. That doesn't mean we need to function as the antithesis of those places. That means we should endeavor to make 718Forum.com as useful to the 718 owner community as the equivalents on P9, rennlist, etc. are un-useful.

To wit: There's a big difference between being blunt and being negative. There's an even larger difference between offering an emphatic counterpoint and making something personal. What I -- and everyone, to varying degrees -- should attempt to do are the formers of those.

I'm an open-minded critical thinker who takes almost nothing in life at face value and as gospel. I do this to the point where a large part of my profession revolves around being a 'devil's advocate', if you will. I'm very good at it. I am not afraid of challenging someone, and I'm also not afraid of being incorrect. That is how learning happens -- both in general and regarding knowledge about our cars. Let's not stifle our collective learning process by being 'nice' and, thus, devaluing what this forum could be, both as a community and as a resource.

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photonscience

· #19 · Sep 11, 2017

Viffermike said:
To all involved regarding the "happy place" comment by @photonscience : This forum should not focus exclusively on positives about our cars. If it does, it will have virtually no redeeming value....To wit: There's a big difference between being blunt and being negative. There's an even larger difference between offering an emphatic counterpoint and making something personal. What I -- and everyone, to varying degrees -- should attempt to do are the formers of those...

Yup, on the same page as you.

My "happy place" comment only refers to the issue of making things "personal". I hope we avoid "ad hominem" arguments.

Reactions: 3

ZuffenHouseRules

· #20 · Sep 13, 2017

Back on topic.....

For 6MT drivers, it's the electronic parking brake that enables the 'hill-holding' clutch feature. Never having been exposed to such a thing, I was a bit skeptical at first. In truth, my early encounters with the feature were rather clumsy, as I carefully eased out the clutch until the parking brake disengaged and I started rolling backwards (and the rear-view camera flashed up on display!) at which point my right foot reflexively went back onto the brake pedal and I re-feathered the clutch....putting me right back where I would have been without the hill-holding feature.

However with just a little experience I'm honestly beginning to like the feature, it does replace that somewhat frantic movement of right foot from brake to throttle with a nice leisurely in-my-own-time deliberation. Of course I get to practice it every time I pull into the garage at the top of our steep driveway....

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